Apparatus for controlling machines and processes



May 26, 1959 H. A. TOULMIN, JR

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING MACHINES AND PROCESSES Filed April 26, 1955 g6 INVENTOR HARRY A. TUULM/N, JR.

F/G'.5 BY

ATTORNEYS United States Patent APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING MACHINES ANDPROCESSES Harry A. Toulmin, Jr., Dayton, Ohio, assignor to TheCommonwealth Engineering Company of Ohio, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation ofOhio Application April 26, 1955, Serial No. 503,985

Claims. (Cl. 250-71) The present invention relates to the controlsystem, more particularly to a method and apparatus for regulatingvarious industrial processes and the like through the use of controltapes.

Since the inception of the machine age, industry has sought methods ofautomatically operating the various machinery employed. These methodshave taken many forms. The basic objective of these methods is theelimination of the human element in controlling the operation of themachine. By elimination of the human element, the cost of operation maybe reduced and accuracy of the processes may be increased. Today theautomatic operation of industrial machinery is termed automation.

In the past, use has been made of perforated paper tapes which areadapted to cooperate with a suitable sensing apparatus. The perforationsin the tape through the agency of the sensing apparatus serve toinitiate and cease various operations of machinery. Fingers which werereceived into the perforations or light passing through the perforationsare examples of some of the sensing means employed.

While use of perforated tapes was economical, it was apparent thatcertain disadvantages were also connected therewith. Chief among thesedisadvantages was the fact that the paper was prone to tearing at theperforations. This resulted in inaccuracies and shutdowns of machineryto enable the tape to be repaired.

In addition, the paper tape was susceptible to expansion andcontraction. This, in turn, varied the relationship between the variousperforations and gave rise to inaccurate regulation of industrialprocesses. In machine operations and the like the inaccuraciesintroduced by the expansion and contraction of the paper tape resultedin a high rejection rate of the articles being machined.

Other control devices such as perforated cards, chains used primarily inthe operation of looms, and cams of various kinds were also employed.While the use of each of these control means was adequate, they were notgenerally considered to be satisfactory.

The present invention proposes the use of a novel and improved form of acontrol tape. This control tape has various advantages as compared withthe prior art control means, and also tends to eliminate some of thedisadvantages associated with perforated paper tapes and the like.

In the present invention the control tape essentially comprises aninextensible opaque strip which has colored luminescent control areasupon a surface thereof. Sensing means comprising light responsiveelements are energized by the colored luminescent control areas. A lightresponsive means for each of the colors of the control areas isprovided.

The light responsive means, in turn, are connected to suitable controlcircuits. Each of the circuits is connected to operate a process oroperation of an industrial Patented May 26, 1959 machine or the like.Each of the color control areas corresponds to a predetermined processto be carried out by the machine involved. The control areas may be ofvarious sizes and shapes and, if desired, two or more control areas maybe sensed by the sensing apparatus simultaneously to initiate concurrentoperations.

By employing colored luminescent areas several advantages areimmediately apparent. Since there is no physical contact between thecontrol tape and the sensing means, the control tape of this inventionwill have a longer life with resultant lower maintenance costs. Inaddition, the absence of any perforation or disfiguration will result ina stronger and more accurate tape.

The basic teaching of this invention may be applied to other industrialprocesses. Among these is maintaina moving belt or the like in lateralalignment. Also, counting on speed regulation of a moving belt throughthe use of luminescent control areas thereon is also disclosed in thisinvention. In all these situations the absence of physical contactbetween the control tape and the moving belt with the sensing apparatusresults in lower maintenance costs and more accurate results.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to provide anovel and improved method and apparatus for controlling industrialprocesses and the like.

It is another object of this invention to provide unperforated controltapes.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved controltape especially adapted to actuate electronic tubes.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide an inextensiblecontrol tape capable of accurate and dependable operation.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a control systemwherein colors are employed to regulate industrial processes and thelike.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become readilyapparent upon reference to the following description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the control tape and sensing apparatusof this invention with a portion of the sensing apparatus removed toshow the details thereof;

Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of the amplifying circuit employed betweenthe light responsive elements and the control circuit;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of structure employed to maintain amoving belt in lateral alignment;

Figure 4 is a sectional view along the lines 4-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an arrangement for measuring orregulating the speed of a moving belt.

Proceeding now to the drawings, more particularly to Figure 1, whereinlike reference symbols indicate the same parts throughout the variousviews, 10 indicates a control tape constructed in accordance with theteachings of this invention. The control tape 10 is in the form of aribbon or strip. The tape is opaque and inextensible. By way of example,the tape may be constructed of a thin metallic ribbon such as aluminum,of a suitable plastic, or of a nylon construction. There exist othersuitable materials which would result in an opaque and inextensibletape.

The control tape may be of the type which is wound about a reel or itmay be of the endless belt type. In the event that the number ofoperations which is desired to be regulated is small, the endless belttype would be preferable. g

The control tape has an upper surface 11 upon which is arranged aplurality of control areas 12. Each of the aeeaaro control areascomprises a colored luminescent material. The luminescent materialshould be of the type which will glow in either daylight or artificiallight.

In order to form a control area a suitable dye or pigmcnt may bepositioned on the upper surface 11 of the control tape in the desiredshape of the control area. The coloriz matter may be organic orinorganic in nature. The dy tuft of pigment should have the desiredcolor charrtcteristics. such as employing chrome yellow to result in ayellow color.

A layer of transparent material containing a fluorescent dye is thenplaced upon the dye or pigment. The transparent material may be made ofa material such as glass or any clear phenol formaldehyde resin. Theresulting control area will be the same color when viewed in eitherdaylight or artificial light.

The dye which may be employed in the transparent layer is a suitableinorganic pigment. The most common pigments employed for this purposetoday are the perti nent activated metal sulfites.

It is to be understood that the above described control area is by wayof example and numerous other methods forming luminescent areas will bereadily apparent to one skilled in the art.

Reference to Figure 1 will reveal that the color con trol areas arepositioned in alignment upon a control belt. This. however, is notlimiting of the pattern into which the control areas may be arranged.The control areas may be of various lengths and several areas may beplaced abreast of each other in order to simultaneously initiate variousoperations.

An electric motor 13 drives a reel 14 upon which the control tape iswound. The control tape is originally wound upon a reel 15 which isrotatably positioned in order to enable the control tape to be unwoundtherefrom.

The sensing apparatus is indicated at 16 and essentially comprises acasing 17 having an opening 18 at the lower end thereof and positionedimmediately above the surface 11 of the control tape. A light source 19is mounted within the casing. This light may be of the ultra-violet ordaylight type.

A plurality of light responsive means 20. 21 and 22 are also positionedwithin the casing 17. The light responsive means through 22 eachcomprises a photoelectric cell which is energized by a particular wavelength of light. The number of cells within the casing corresponds tothe number of colors of the control areas. Consequently, the wave lengthof light reflected by a particular control area will energize thatphotoelectric cell which has been previously selected so as to beresponsive to that particular wave length.

Each of the light responsive means 20 to 22 is connected to a suitableamplifying circuit which is housed within the amplifier casing 23. Theamplifying circuit is of the type comprising a suitable discharge devicesuch as an electronic tube indicated at 24.

There is a control cable leading from the amplifier casing 23 to acontrol box 26 of the machine which is to be operated. The control cable25 houses the electric leads extending from the amplifier circuits.

in order to illustrate the application of this invention, the controlbox 26 is described as being mounted upon a conventional hydraulicpress. The hydraulic press is of the type wherein movement of the platenis initiated by closing the starting circuit. At the completion of thedownward working movement and the upward return movement of the platen.it is desired to eiect the article within the press. Subsequently. awork blank must be fed into the press prior to the initiation of thework cycle. Consequently. three steps will be necessary in thisoperationstart. eiection and feed. A control box 26 contains pushbuttons 27. 28 and 29 which are connected to the various circuits forinitiating the above three discussed processes. The push buttons are formanual operation of the processes. In addition, there is an electricalcontact arrangement, such as indicated at 30, in Figure 2, which closesthe control circuit associated with each of the push buttons. Thisarrangement comprises a pair of stationary contacts 31, which areadapted to be closed by a movable contact 32. The movable contact 32 ismounted upon a reciprocable armature 33, which is biased by means of aspring 34 to maintain the stationary contacts 3t open. There is a coil35 surrounding the armature 33. The coil 35 is a component of the startcontrol circuit which is, in turn, connected to the amplifying circuitconnected to the light responsive means 20.

Consequently, energization of the light responsive means 20 will resultin energization of the coil 35. This, in turn, will cause a downwardmovement of the armature 33 and will result in closing the contacts 31.The closing of these contacts will initiate the work cycle of the press.

It is pointed out that while the normal position of the power contacts31 is open, a control circuit could also be employed with the contactsin normal closed position and energization of the motor responsive meanswill result in opening of the contacts.

Each of the light responsive means 21 and 22 is similarly connected toan amplifying circuit to the corresponding push buttons 28 and 29.

With the structure of the control system in mind, the operation thereofwill presently be described.

Movement of the control tape 10 will result in positioning the controlarea 12A, which is red in color, beneath the opening 18 of the sensingapparatus. As the light responsive means 20 had been previously selectedto be responsive to the wave of light given ofi by the red areas, thelight responsive means will be immediately energized. Closing of thecircuit through the light responsive means 20 will result in the coil 35being energized through the amplifier circuit. Closing the contacts 31will initiate the start of the hydraulic press.

The movement of the control tape is regulated so as to position the nextcontrol area 12B, which is green in color, under the sensing apparatus,after a sufiicient interval of time to prevent the completion of thework cycle of the press. The control area 128 will accordingly result inenergization of the light responsive means 21. The light responsivemeans 21 will, in turn, through its amplifier system initiate theoperation of the ejection mechanism to eject the article from the press.

Subsequent positioning of the control area 12C, blue in color, willresult in operation of the feed mechanism to position a Work blankwithin the press. This feeding operation will complete the cycle and thesubsequent control area to be positioned beneath the sensing mechanismwould be a red control area 12A.

The above described application of this invention is basic but simplesince it involves only three operations. However, by employing aconsiderably greater number of colors on the control tape and acorresponding number of light responsive means within the sensingmechanism. the complexity and number of operations which may beregulated will be greatly increased.

Proceeding next to Figures 3 and 4, there is illustrated therein amethod for maintaining a moving belt in alignment. The moving belt isindicated at 36 and may be cloth which is being fed into a textileprinting machine. There are luminescent lines 37 and 38 positionedadjacent the edges of the belt 36. The luminescent lines are of aconstant width. Positioned above the belt 36 is a plate 39 having slots40 and 41 therein which register with the luminescent lines 37 and 38respectively.

Positioned above each one of the slots 40 and 41 is a sensing mechanism42. The sensing mechanism 42 comprises a casing 43 which has an opening44 in the lower end thereof. The opening 44 is similar in size to theslots 40 and 41.

There is a dividing plate or barrier 45 longitudinally bisecting theslot 40 and extending upwardly to the .W tit-WWW l M i ll l in, In an Inm in man, ll W my i um Ml-AIL lIIl mumm l top of the casing 43. Thereare light responsive cells 46 and 47 positioned upon each side of thebarrier 45. Each of the cells 46 and 47 is connected to a suitableamplifying circuit indicated at 48, which is similar to the circuitillustrated at Figure 2, to a hydraulic valve 49. The hydraulic valve 49has a pair of plungers therein, each of which is operated by a coilwhich is energized by one of the light responsive means 46 and 47. Thehydraulic fluid is pumped from a source of fluid pressure 50 through thevalve 49 to a hydraulic motor 51, which is connected to a laterallymovable roller 52 which supports the belt 36. Movement of the hydraulicmotor 51 will result in movement of the roller 52 and subsequent lateralpositioning of the moving belt 56.

The slotted plate 39 is closely spaced above the belt 36. The edges ofthe luminescent lines 37 and 38 correspond with the edges of the slots40 and 41 with which the lines are associated. Consequently, any lateralmovement of the belt will result in a portion of the belt being exposedto slots 40 and 41. Consequently, one of the light responsive means willbe exposed to luminescent material upon one side of the barrier 45. Theother cell, however, will be exposed to only a portion of theluminescent stripe.

Should th re be a lateral movement of the moving belt toward the left,the amount of light received by the cell 47 from the narrowed width ofthe exposed luminescent stripe will be insuflicient to maintainenergization of the cell 47. This, in turn, will cause deenergization ofthe coil A associated with the hydraulic valve 49. Consequently,pressure will be reduced on the right hand side of the piston and thehydraulic motor 51 which will cause movement of the piston toward theright. The roller and correspondingly the moving belt will be movedtoward the right to bring the luminescent stripe in perfect registrationwith the slot 41. When the line is in registration with the slot, cell47 will then again receive sutficient light from the luminescent stripeto be energized and result in movement of the hydraulic valve to itsneutral position to cease operation of the hydraulic motor. The samesequence is, of course, followed should the moving belt shift laterallytoward the right.

Through the use of the above described sensing mechanism which compriseslight responsive means, it can be seen that realignment of movement ofthe belt is virtually instantaneous. Consequently, the aligningstructure disclosed in this invention is faster acting and more accuratethan prior art mechanical aligning arrangements.

The aligning arrangement of this invention may be used to considerableadvantage in the textile industry where it is desired to feed textilematerial in perfect alignment to the machine. This will insure properpositioning of the printed pattern upon the material which in turn, willconsiderably reduce the production of faulty printed cloth.

Proceeding to Figure 5, there is illustrated therein an arrangement formeasuring or regulating the speed of a moving belt. In this arrangementthe moving belt at 53 has dashed luminescent lines 54 and 55 adjacentthe edges thereof. A slotted plate 56 which is similar to the plate 39,illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, is spaced above the belt 53. Lightresponsive means 57 are positioned above the plate 56 in registrationwith the slots thereof. The slots within the plate are similarly alignedwith the luminescent lines 54 and 55. If it is desired to use thisarrangement for counting, the light responsive means 57 will, in turn,be connected to a suitable amplifying circuit to counting mechanism.

The periodic passage of the luminescent control areas of the lines 54and 55 will successively energize the light responsive means 57. Eachenergization will be recorded by the counting mechanism. By positioningthe luminescent areas of the dash lines at predetermined intervals, itwill be possible to determine precisely at any given instant the amountof material which has passed beneath the light responsive means 57.

By connecting the light responsive means 57 to a suitable speedregulating mechanism, this arrangement may be used to closely regulatethe speed at which the belt 53 is passed beneath the plate 56.

Thus it can be seen that the present invention provides an improvedapparatus and structure for controlling industrial processes and forregulating and measuring moving strip material. While the control tapehas been described as being operated with industrial machinery, it ispointed out that many chemical processes can be readily controlled inthis manner. In the textile industry, the operation of looms may also becontrolled by control tapes having colored luminescent control areasthereon.

The use of colored luminescent control areas gives rise to a wider scopeof control through the use of a narrow control tape. Not only is itpossible to employ the basic colors, but various combinations of thesecolors which result in many shades may be employed to energize sensingmechanism.

The manufacture of control tapes having colored luminescent controlareas thereon is inexpensive and the resulting product offersconsiderable advantages over the conventionally used perforated papertape, primarily longer life and greater accuracy.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adapt it to different usages and conditions, and,accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within thisinvention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a control system, a moving opaque strip, a line of luminescentmaterial thereon, plate means covering said strip, said plate having anaperture therein registering with said line, sensing means responsive tothe line uncovered by said aperture, and means actuated by said sensingmeans to laterally control said strip to maintain said strip andapertures in alignment.

2. A control system comprising an opaque tape, colored luminescentcontrol areas of different colors on said tape, and means for sensingsaid control areas, said means comprising a light source and lightresponsive means individually responsive to each of the colors of saidcontrol areas.

3. A control system comprising an inextensible opaque tape, means formoving said tape, a plurality of luminescent control areas of differentcolors arranged in a predetermined pattern on said tape, means forsensing said colored areas, said sensing means comprising a common lightsource and a plurality of light responsive means, and means forselectively registering control areas with said light responsive means,there being one each light responsive means for each of the colors ofsaid control areas, and a control circuit for each of said lightresponsive means.

4. In an arrangement for aligning a moving belt hav ing a luminescentstripe thereon, a plate positioned on said belt, said plate having anaperture registerable with said stripe and having the same width, aplate-like barrier upstanding from said plate and bisecting saidaperture longitudinally of said stripe, first and second lightresponsive means on each side of said barrier, and means operable by oneof said light responsive means when a portion of the belt is exposedthrough said aperture for realigning said belt to bring said stripe intoregistration with said aperture.

5. In a control system, the combination of, a movable opaque tape,fluorescent control areas of various colors on one side of said tape, alight source to energize said fluorescent control areas,light-responsive means individually responsive to each of the variouscolors of said fluorescent control areas, and a housing enclosing saideeeawo light source and light-responsive means and having an openingregistrable with the colored control areas on the tape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,244,058 Langer Oct. 23, 1917 2,268,498 Bryce Dec. 30, 1941 2,593,206Short Apr. 15, 1952 OTHER REFERENCES Luminescence, by Pringsheim et211., published by Interscience Publishers, Inc., 215 4th Ave., NewYork, N.Y., in 1943, pp. 130-132.

